"Many of us have built lives that are too loud to hear ourselves in.”

"This is very insightful. It has been on my mind that critical thinking, strategy and leadership requires deep thinking and uninterrupted thought. Everyone needs to read this!"

In an age of constant motion, few of us have time to think before reacting. Leadership coach and author Susan Marshall believes we’ve mistaken speed for progress and noise for knowledge. Every scroll, swipe, and instant reaction convinces us we’re keeping up, when in reality we’re just spinning faster. Through her Backbone Institute, she teaches what modern life forgets: that courage begins in quiet, and clarity only comes when we find stillness.

In the landscape of modern life, where obstacles and possibilities are intricately woven together, resides the timeless pursuit of personal fortitude and adaptability. Central to this journey is the concept of the “backbone”— a metaphor for the vital attributes of strength, perseverance, and confidence that underpin personal and professional triumphs. Recognizing the need for these qualities in today’s fast-paced world, Susan Marshall founded the Backbone Institute.

Read full article….

Oconomowoc, WI – Susan is a well-regarded speaker, leadership advisor, and founder of Backbone Institute working with high performance leaders in the public and private sector, non-profit agencies, and public education. Susan is also the acclaimed author of four books Mom’s Gone Missing: When A Parent’s Changing Life Upends Yours, How to Grow A Backbone: 10 Strategies for Gaining Power and Influence at Work, Of Beauty and Substance: A Backbone Guide for Women, and Life. Be In It.

Before launching her own company, Susan led a turnaround of a private marketing firm in the mid-1990s, which was the practical culmination of years of learning.… Read the rest “Part 2: Blog Talk Radio Interview”

Oconomowoc, WI – Susan is a well-regarded speaker, leadership advisor, and founder of Backbone Institute working with high performance leaders in the public and private sector, non-profit agencies, and public education. Susan is also the acclaimed author of four books Mom’s Gone Missing: When A Parent’s Changing Life Upends Yours, How to Grow A Backbone: 10 Strategies for Gaining Power and Influence at Work, Of Beauty and Substance: A Backbone Guide for Women, and Life. Be In It.

Before launching her own company, Susan led a turnaround of a private marketing firm in the mid-1990s, which was the practical culmination of years of learning.… Read the rest “Blog Talk Radio Interview”

Mom’s Gone Missing: When a Parent’s Changing Life Upends Yours
by Susan A. Marshall
HenschelHAUS Publishing

book review by Michelle Jacobs

“Working with someone whose mental capabilities are compromised is a constant exercise in patience and acceptance.”

When Susan Marshall gets the phone call from her brother telling her that her mother is missing, she is shocked to find that her mother is descending into dementia just months after her father has succumbed to Alzheimer’s. Marshall finds herself wholly unprepared to face the myriad of decisions that arise as she navigates the health, financial, and legal issues that come with caring for her mother.… Read the rest “The US Review of Books”

Oconomowoc author pens book to guide caregivers

GMToday
By Alex Nemec
OCONOMOWOC — Susan Marshall’s fourth book starts out on a Monday morning in January 2016. She was excited for the new year until she got a call from her brother in Colorado.

“Mom’s gone missing,” he told Marshall, an Oconomowoc resident.

That fateful line is the title of Marshall’s newest book in which she chronicles life as a caregiver for her father Arthur Lastofka and her mother Catherine Lastofka.

Arthur was in hospice care for five months before he passed away in 2016 from Alzheimer’s. Shortly thereafter, Marshall had to go to Arizona to pack up Catherine and bring her to Oconomowoc to stay at the Azura Memory Care facility for her dementia.… Read the rest “Mom’s Gone Missing”

Podcast Interview with James Kademan

Susan A Marshall – The Backbone Institute

We have all come across people that just seem to need to learn how to stand up for themselves and for others.  Sometimes, we may even come across that way.  What is the answer?  How do you become more confident in a professional setting without becoming arrogant? We, as business owners, walk a fine line between commanding the respect necessary to get stuff done and still maintaining the empathy needed to make sure you keep the culture of your business welcoming.  Susan A. Marshall knows just how this works and she makes a living helping businesses of all sizes accomplish this challenging task.… Read the rest “Authentic Business AdventureRadio – Episode 137”

Meet the Author

Tuesday, October 6th | 7:30 am CST

Susan Marshall, founder of Backbone Institute, is the author of the recently released memoir, Mom’s Gone Missing…when a parent’s changing life upends yours ….a poignant story written by Susan about the challenging journey as a caregiver to her father’s decade-long Alzheimer’s journey and a mother’s lightning-fast dementia and both of their deaths. Susan writes about what happens to the family during these challenging times, and how she, as the spokesperson for her family, was on a daily, emotional roller coaster with associated organizations in finance, legal and health. Susan’s book is a powerful inside look when a family member negotiates the myriad, often exhausting details of a healthcare crisis for each parent.… Read the rest “The Morning Blend Show on TMJ4-TV Milwaukee”



Thanks again to everyone came to support “Successfully leading an organization & building your wealth” last week at the Woman’s Club of Wisconsin!

The event had it all… dynamic speakers, insightful stories, a fresh coat of soft beautiful snow to top off a healthy discussion! It was an experience to remember and one we won’t soon forget.

Please share this video if you could be there or if you feel someone you know needs words of empowerment on a day like today.